Memorial Day Challenge

[Bobbinyc]

Welcome to the next Challenge!

This one will start on April 18 and continue to Memorial Day (May 29th) 2017.   That gives us 6 weeks to work toward our next set of goals as we try to lose weight or maintain in a healthy way.

Everyone is welcome to join this terrific group. You can post once weekly or every day - whatever you like - to share your journey, give and get support, offer advice, get some tips.  We have celebrated each other's successes, and empathized with the setbacks.  I personally found, the more I respond to others, the easier it is for me to focus on my own journey in a positive way.  We have seen great progress in previous challenges, because we are in it together and focusing on being healthier and living better lives.

Some of the terms used to report our weight:

USW - ultimate starting weight - the heaviest weight when you began to lose

SW - starting weight for this challenge

CW - current weight for the day you report in

GW - goal weight for this challenge, for Halloween

UGW - ultimate goal weight that you intend to reach eventually

Some people also include their height, their age, their BMI.  

All  you need to do to join, is start posting, usually with some of the weight information.

I'm very excited about continuing with this wonderful group of people and meeting some new folks too.

[DJC_63]

@Ava_  I understand what you mean about food boredom. I've been doing the same thing as you for around a year now. I eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch, and dinner is usually one of two different meals, for the same reasons that you wrote. That is part of the reason why I look forward to my snacks, because the rest is just a means to an end. At the end of each day I let myself have a few squares of a dark chocolate bar, it's basically my reward for eating everything else. I keep Gummy Bears on hand for a little snack, too, and just recently I've had a love affair with those 2-bite cupcakes. I tell myself it's a way to give myself a little bit of something I enjoy, but somedays I eat a bit of each of them so that doesn't help me lose weight. I also have started logging again, tho, so I can make myself avoid it on some days.

Now that I know why I'm eating some of these things I feel like I can try to find other pleasures. My other default is shopping, especially online, but I've got too many bills now so that has to stop, too.  *sigh*

[DJC_63]

@Nora58  I like your idea of crocheting instead of eating. I enjoy crocheting so I might be able to do that. I need to do what you've done and keep the goodies out of the house. I'm glad that soon I'll be able to get a lot more fresh fruit to snack on. I don't like veggies very much so I have to eat more fruit.

[Esya]

SW - 59.8 kg (week 1)

PW - 60.3 kg (week 2)

PW - 59.9 kg (week 3)

PW - 59.5 kg (week 4)

CW - 60.6 kg

GW - 59.5 kg

I was expecting to be weighing less than yesterday, but that did not happen. Time spent well with my family is very important too and I know I can get it back on track.

[DJC_63]

@HeartBiller,  maybe the stress you've been under is causing your visitor to show up so often. I had that happen before. I finally went to see my ob/gyn and she did an ultrasound just to make sure everything was okay. (It was, so she chalked it up to stress.)

It's always good to get that checked, because it really messes with your hormones! The last few years I had mine I noticed that it seemed to get worse, my moods were so bad the day before she'd show up. I wouldn't be surprised if the stress AND the more frequent visits are both contributing to your exhaustion.

[ThatGreen]

Update #4:

CSW: 95.9 kg
W1: 93.9 -2

W2: 93.9  0

W3: 94.1 +0.2

W4: 95.1 +1

GWRange: 91.8 - 89.9 kg

As you guys probably can tell, my scale and I are not on good terms these days.

There's a high chance this is all water weight and I know this because during this challenge I've had a 1000 calorie deficit every day, minus one maintenance day and yesterday's 900 deficit and I log as precisely as possible.

In addition, I hit a lower number on the scale last week and since then I've been stressed out, sore from working out, gone out for drinks and pizza (within calories), not eaten particularly well but also still within my calories and this is the time during my lady cycle I usually hold most water.

But really?

Feeling like my weight goals for this challenge are fading fast, but back on the patience train we go!

[Esya]

@ThatGreenI am rooting for you for next week's weight in.

[IdahoSandy]

MEMORIAL DAY CHALLENGE
USW 208 lbs (5/22/16)
SW 169.9 (4/18)
PW 171 (4/24)
PW 167.6 (5/2)
PW 166.7 (5/10)
CW 165.8 (5/16)
(5/15)
(5/22)
(5/28)

Plan: mfp food tracker and exercise 5 days per week

[Esya]

Nice results @IdahoSandy.

[Gayle1018]

Morning all,  hasn't been a good last 2 months for me. 

Lots of emotional stuff!  my sister in law whom I loved dearly passed a way 2 weeks ago after being in ICU for 3 weeks..and darrn it all she was 8 years younger then an I. But had had 2 stage 4 cancers that left her immune system gone..  

Did do lots of walking, but also comfort eating,  so up over the last 2-3 mths 4 LB. But I know she is at peace and pain-free, and I'm trying to be supportive my brother and niece, and time for me to move on...

So got my nerve up and weighed in, updated my app, and goal is to get back on track.  Probably won't make my goal for Memorial Day Challenge,  but will be cheering you all on - love to see your successes.

[Esya]

@Gayle1018

Only up by 4LB while going through that sounds to me like you still did great. That is just a small gain over a longer time while going through a very emotional period. And you are already getting back into the game again. I think you should give yourself some credit for that all.

[TT_is_me]

USW 315
4/18 - 215.8
4/25 - 215.4

5/2 - 217.4

5/8 - 219.4

5/16 - 214.2

GW - 206 by Memorial Day (not gonna happen this time lol)

-5.2 lbs 

Exciting news! I FINALLY HIT THE -100 LBS MARK!!! WOOHOOO! I've gone from 2xl/3xl tops to Xl or L and size 26 pants to 16. It's really exciting to think that in two to three months I might be below 200 for the first time since middle school (whaaaa?!??!?!). It blows my mind that I have nearly lost a full human in lbs. A very small human, but still 🙂

Here's a progress picture of me at my heaviest and about 10 lbs heavier than I am now. Kicking butt, taking names, ready for the next challenge!

[almost_where]

Such an amazing accomplishment @TT_is_me !!  Big congrats on the 100# badge.

[GettingfitinSC]

@TT_is_me WOW! What an accomplishment! you look terrific and I know you feel terrific as well. It's such an encouragement to me to see the results of others' hard work. I really needed the encouragement too, as I'm in a bit of a slump right now. Thanks for posting!

[RachelShrinks]

@TT_is_me: AWESOME!

@Gayle1018: I'm so sorry to hear the news. Prayers to you and yours!

As for me, I'm not doing so hot lately myself. I sort of fell into a depression when my wife got home from her five-day work trip. For those five days I just had to take care of the kids and myself. For those five days, I got almost six hours of sleep a night and worked out and ate well and felt great and I figured, when she came back, it'd be awesome.

But of course, as soon as she came back there was chemo to contend with, and waiting hours for the timing of the pills, and managing the muscle cramps (massage is the only thing that helps, and guess who the midnight massager is?), and fighting to find food she can eat and NOT making food that will set off the nausea just by the smell of it...

I just sort of got lost in the futility of my life these days, you know? Why bother losing weight and dealing with my anxiety issues and my hypothyroid and any of it, when I'm back to 3-4 hours of sleep a day and caretaking a spouse with a terminal disease while I try to raise three young kids.

Anyway, not surprised by the weight gain, but I'm trying to get back to it today—I've gone for a couple of long walks, eaten only good stuff, and am trying to tell myself that this is all worth it. All of it. We were only supposed to get 10 months with my wife after diagnosis—we've already had three times that. It's worth it.

USW: 194 lbs (January 1, 2017)

CSW: 168.2 lbs

PW (4/25): 167.8 lbs. (-0.4)

PW (5/2): 167.4 lbs. (-0.4)

PW (5/9): 164.4 (-3.0)

CW (5/16): 166.2 (+1.8)

CGW: 159.9 lbs (6.3—3.15 lbs a week—Not darn likely! Sigh.) 

[_Lilac_]

@TT_is_me  Wow wow wow. You look so happy!! I am thrilled for you. You are stunning and an inspiration. Thank you for posting these pictures. It will help us all not to focus on those darned numbers but the smile and the look of confidence. What a great reminder. I would NEVER think you were >200 in that photo. Never. I am cheering for you!!

[_Lilac_]

@RachelShrinks  I'm not going to make goal either, but then I think I've already hit some major milestones and I'm happy. Sixty pounds down since starting my first challenge back in September and got under 300. Sometimes we need mini-goals to keep us going. When is Memorial Day anyway? lol. We don't celebrate that here. ....oh. May 29 (thanks Google). Ya, I'm not losing 10 lbs in 2 weeks. But I will keep on truckin' and see if I can budge this stubborn scale. I'm back to the pool so that might help.

Your sleep patterns are probably majorly affecting your quality of life. Lack of sleep throws our whole universe into a tailspin. I wish I was near you so I could offer support, help with your daily responsibilities, even just as a walking partner. Do you have anyone around who can lend a hand? And I know, as parent, as caretaker..no one can do what you do the way you do it. When my husband was ill, I had services (paid for by our awesome health care system...ahem) of nurses, hospice workers to sit with him while I took time for myself, even cleaners to tidy my house and do things I was too exhausted to do. They'd even walk my dog if needed!! Are there resources you could tap into? At first I wanted to clean before the cleaners got there. I was so uncomfortable with having someone else in my house doing things. But I really needed it. You know you need some help. You are exhausted and can't take care of yourself like you take care of everyone else. You might find some if you ask around. 

I wish you the best. 

[A_Lurker]

@TT_is_me- great progress pics!  You look fantastic. 

[Esya]

@TT_is_me

You look great!

[Ava_]

I don't even want to have to post my weight this week.  I don't understand it and feel at a loss at what to do 😞

USW - 154 (12/30/16)

CSW for this challenge – 135.5 (04/18)

PW – 135.5 (04/25)  

PW - 135.5 (05/02)

PW - 135.0 (05/09)

CW - 136.9 (05/16)

GW for this challenge - 129

UGW - 125 (summer?)

[Ava_]

@TT_is_me Fantastic before and after photos!  You look great!